Help for Untraditional Wedding Dress - Budget up to 3k?

[lesley33]

I am getting married in late summer. We are having a smallish informal type wedding - about 70 people. I want to look great on my big day, but I don't want a big white wedding dress. I am having trouble finding something suitable and I wondered whether anyone had any ideas?

I am 47, a size 16. 5ft 3 and would be an hourglass figure if still slimmer. I have dark hair and a "celtic" type face. I have large breasts - even when i was slim. After 4 DCs I have various lumps and bumps, so a dress could not be clingy. I also have disproportionately large upper arms so need a dress with a sleeve to at least the elbow. I don't want to wear a wrap that I constantly have to be adjusting.

I like stylish, elegant dresses and most colours, particularly red, but also green, blue and multi-coloured. Although I don't like gold colour. I don't like lots of ruffles i.e. too flouncy in a feminine way. I would prefer knee length or a long dress. And I have to be able to dance in it. Happy to spend less, but could spend up to 3k.

Any ideas?

I would say a long dress cut on the bias will elongate you and make you look lovely and tall.
I got my dress from Monsoon years and years ago. It was plums and cerise Devore cut on the bias. I actually bought two of them and got a dressmaker to make it super long. I still wear it to posh do's now.

OMFG how beautiful is this one wai-ching.com/content/catalan-dress

What is your partner wearing or will you be surprising each other?

www.ghost.co.uk/ghost-bridal-and-occasion-wear/scarlett-satin-dress.html?color=271

Ooooh, had forgotten about ghost- this is lovely.

Catalan dress is stunning - but with no sleeves, not for me. I actually lean towards longer dresses, not knee length. But perhaps you are right and bespoke is the way to go.

Partner hasn't chosen yet what she will wear. Probably smart trousers and a blouse or tunic.

I like the blue ghost dress - lovely and meets requirements! Thanks will try this one on. And cheap as well!

I'm a big Candy Anthony fan also.

anusha.co.uk/product.cfm?id=373 Looks black in picture but says it's midnight blue, think would suit hourglass figure.

A friend used this company when she wanted an evening dress with sleeves]]. I think you can browse quite specifically, including for dresses 'with sleeves'.

Bloody hell, that site's a find Disputandum- lesley, they do a copy of the Westwood dress (as worn by Helen Mirren) in different colours here...

www.johnlewis.com/303511/Product.aspx?source=63258 similar to ghost dress.

Homes and Antiques magazine has a thing on a vintage wedding fair this month. Lots of lovely dresses there it seems.

Tethersend - The black wool cocktail dress on frocks.com is lovely - but not the right colour for my wedding. If I went to cocktail parties, I would buy it.

The John Lewis dress is nice, but it has capped sleeves rather than proper sleeves like the ghost dress.

The lbd site is great as well - thanks.

I am making French Onion soup!

I would go down the dressmaker route. Make a few sketches of your own ideas and have it pinned and made exactly to your dream. With your budget you can go to quite a high class dress designer.

I do remember when my DH and his siblings went to get some professional photos taken for their parents Ruby anniversary I advised them to colour cordinate. They didn't and the result was a clash of electric blue, brown, black and green.

You don't want to look like twins or bridesmaids but pearl grey and red look good together for example.

Christ - I am on a bloody mission here!. Promise you will show us what you choose!

I promise I will. And yes the colours do need to go together, I agree.

Such a shame this is only in black

stunning

this might work, or be a disaster - one or the other.

gorgeous

Read the old thread, Fellatio- I got there first with those beauties

What, all of 'em? Dang you to hell Tethers.

What excellent taste you have.

Not sure if this is your thing, OP, but this is rather marvellous. It makes me want to stand around on sun-drenched Art Deco lawns with a cocktail in my hand

Another one who loves Candy Anthony here - if I were planning my wedding again I ould want one of her dresses.

Another company I found when planning my wedding was this - original vintage dresses, some very beautiful.

Lesley

Can you send some links to styles you like - help us narrow it down a bit and help guide us in our fantasy shopping--

OTheHugeManatee, I love those dresses. Why did I have to be 8 months pregnant when I got married!

Sorry that was aimed at WhenDoISleep, the dress in OTheHugeManatee's link reminds me of Margot in The Good Life .